Monday, 27 February 2017

What is an Algorithm and how can this help your revision?

It was in the news
today that many people are now learning to code. What is coding?
Simply telling a computer exactly what it has to do. Coding is like
the magic wand of computers and it is an extremely useful life skill
in this technology obsessed world.

Before we jump into
coding, there are a few steps that must be considered. First of all,
we need an algorithm. An algorithm is a set of rules that solve a
problem. These need to be done in the right order, otherwise they
will not work.

This structure can
also apply to life and revision. Would you take an exam and then
revise afterwards? Hopefully not! When you write an algorithm, the
order of the instructions is very important.

This can be really
useful when preparing for the OT exam, as these require a set
routine. Some students find that having an algorithm really helps
them to focus and achieve the best results.

So, what would a
typical revision step by step routine look like? Perhaps something
like this:

Highlight key areas
of the study text

Test your knowledge
of one area

Read back over the
study text

Test all of your
knowledge with a mock

This is an example
of a good revision routine. You can always change it to suit your own
needs, but remember, there is such a thing as a bad algorithm in
computers and this applies to real life, too! For example:

Read through the
study text

Look out through the
window

Decide to study
tomorrow...maybe!

Algorithms only
really work when they are designed to achieve a specific goal. So
next time you think about revising, think about the steps you need to
take, in order to achieve the success you would like.

More information
about the OT courses and materials we offer can be found here: http://www.astranti.com/cima/strategic/courses/ot.html